Tensioned awning



Nov. 29, 1938. o. c. TABB 2,138,219

TENSIONED AWNING Filed May 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 END gwuc/wk'b OSCAR C. TABB Nov. 29, 1938. TABB 2,138,219

TENSIONED AWNING Filed May 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES TEN SIONED AWNTN G Oscar C. Tabb, Waco, Tex., assignor to Crawford- Austin Manufacturing 00., a corporation of Texas Application May 28, 1938, Serial No. 210,765

12 Claim.

This invention relates to awnings for windows, doors, and other ventilating openings of buildings or vehicles, and more particularly to the mounting or supporting means therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide an awning which when mounted is at all times maintained in fully lowered operative position under continuous spring tension resisting any tendency of the awning web to flex or collapse.

Another object is to provide an improved mounting for awnings in which the tensile strength of the awning web constitutes an important part of the means by which the web frame is operatively fixed to the framework forming a part of the window or other opening to which the awning is applied.

A further object is to provide an awning having a web adapted for detachable connection at its top to the framework of the Window or other opening and having a base frame detachably engageable with the framework under positive spring tension imparted thereto by the act of attaching the web at its top.

Still another object is to provide a top attachable awning having a base frame inherently capable of maintaining the awning web in a taut, fully opened state through pressure contact against a portion of the frame surrounding the window or other opening with which the awning is associated.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts 35 throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an awning as mounted on a window frame in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the base frame '40 by which the awning web is carried.

Figure 3 is substantially a vertical section through Figure 1 illustrating in dotted lines the mounted position of the awningand in full lines the manner of mounting the same.

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative form of base frame.

Figure 5 is substantially a fragmentary vertical section through Figure 4 illustrating in full lines the position of the base frame and web prior to attaching the web at its top and in dotted lines the positions assumed by the same parts following attachment.

Figure 6 is a perspective View, partly broken away, illustrating a further alternative embodiment of base frame and its mounting.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section, partly in end elevation, of the base frame assembly of Figure 6.

As shown, the awning is associated with the frame 8 of a window or other ventilating opening and comprises a fabric web 9 having along its top edge a series of grommets l0 adapted to take over headed securing elements ll, preferably of the turn button type, anchored in the top of the window frame, wherebythe awning web may be detachably secured at its top directly against the outer top face of the window frame.

At its lower edge the awning web is mounted over the bight portion of a substantially U-shaped base frame I2 of durable spring steel wire stock,

the two arms [3 of which extend in parallel spaced relation for a distance sufiicient to provide the requisite lateral spacing of the bottom of the awning web from the Window frame. Preferably the arms I3 and bight portion 12 occupy a common plane but either or all may be curved or bowed longitudinally as desired.

The arms I3 have terminalportions l4 bent at obtuse angles, and in parallelism, the angled terminals being relatively short in length as compared to the length of their respective arms.

Aside from the securing elements II, the sole fittings for mounting the awning comprise a pair of screw eyes [5 screwed in the window frame at each side at the desired horizontal level.

In mounting the awning, the terminal portions M of the base frame are inserted upwardly in and through the eyes l5 preferably until arrested by the bend of the arms and the web 9 is then pulled upwardly and secured over the fasteners II. This act of pulling up on the web bows the spring arms l3 and places the same under a positive tension which constantly urges the arms downwardly, thus maintaining the web in a taut state.

It should here be stated that the over-all length of the web is always too short to permit of its being fastened at the top without placing the arms l3 of the base frame under tension.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that as the arms 13 are pulled upwardly under tension, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3, their terminal portions M are rocked inwardly on the fulorums provided by the eyes l5 and also under tension so that they are forced 1 tightly against the window frame. The pressure of their contact against the window frame is so great that the terminals M are frictionally bound against dislodgment and cannot become loosened to the extent which would permit them to drop down through the eyes I5. Thus the base frame is firmly secured in position without the aid of independent securing elements. The tensile strength of the web, being greater than the biasing force of the spring tension on the arms, thus constitutes the means by which the base frame is operatively fixed in relation to the window frame.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 all parts are identical to the form previously described except that the use of eyes on the window frame is dispensed with and the terminal portions M of the spring arms l3 are continued in the axis of their respective arms, being received in sockets l5 bored or otherwise provided in or on the window frame at each side thereof. In this embodiment, as the web 9 is pulled up to fasten it at its top, the spring arms l3 are bowed upwardly under tension so that the web is maintained taut and the tension of the terminal portions l4 against the walls of the sockets I5 is greatenough to preclude the possibility of accidental dislodgment.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and '7 is identical with the form shown in the preceding views except that the substantially U-shaped base frame consists of a bight portion Hi and arms ll formed of pipe lengths joined by elbows l8. Lengths of spring steel wire I 3 are inserted axially in the ends of the arms I! and may be adjusted therein by means of set screws 2!] to provide for rigidity of the assembly and for variation in the space of the bight portion l6 laterally from the window frame. The inner end portions 2| of the wire lengths l9 are obtusely angled so that they may be passed upwardly through the eyes l5 when mounting the awning as in the manner of the terminals l of the spring arms l3 embodied in the form. of invention shown in Figures 1 to 3.

In this embodiment, when the web 9 is pulled upwardly to be fastened at its top, the major tension of the spring wire lengths l9 occurs in their terminal portions 2| which rock on the fulcrums provided by the eyes l5 and bear tightly against the face of the window frame with a pressure sufficiently great to preclude the possibility of accidental dislodgment by dropping down through the eyes. The tension constantly urges the lengths l9 downwardly and thus maintains the web in a taut condition or state.

In all embodiments of the invention it is the upward pull on the awning in attaching it at its top to the window frame that places the spring means under tension and the tension thus imparted is maintained constant until the web is detached, resulting in a constant bias on the awn ing web by which it is kept taut and restrained against flexing or collapse.

The determining factor which assures proper tension of the spring means effecting tautness of the awning web and anchorage of the base frame to the window or other opening frame is, in all embodiments of the invention, the fact that prior to the connection of the web to the upper part of the window frame the straight line distance between the horizontal plane of that point of connection and the bight of the U-shaped base frame is greater than the all-over length of the web so that the web must be pulled up to effect its connection, thereby placing the resilient portions of the base frame under spring tension which is not relieved until the web is unfastene'd.

The degree of tension on the base frame arms may be regulated by variable adjustment of the angle of their terminal portions. As the angle is increased the tension will be greater and vice versa.

The screw eyes l5 and the sockets l5 comprise guide and retaining sockets detachably receiving the terminal portions of the base frame arms. However, it is within the province of this invention that the retaining or securing means may take other forms. If found desirable or expedient the terminal portions of the base frame arms may be fixedly secured to the window frame or other supporting structure. The structural arrangement of the base frame and its resilient arms may also be varied. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the limits imposed by the scope of the invention as claimed the structure may be varied as desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In combination with a window frame or the like, an awning web, web securing means fixed on the outer upper portion of the window frame, said web being attachable at its top to the upper part of the window frame over said securing means, means spacing the bottom of said web laterally outward from. the window frame, said means being resilient and engaging the window frame in a manner to be placed under spring tension by the movement of said web to its attached position whereby to maintain said web in a taut condition.

2. In combination with a window frame or the like, an awning web, web securing means fixed on the upper part of the window frame, said web being attachable at its top to the upper part of the window frame over said securing means, a base frame on which the lower end of the web is mounted, resilient members extending from said base frame in contact with the window frame at each side thereof, means for securing and holding said resilient members to the window frame in a fixed vertical spaced relation relative to the web securing means, and the length of said web being less than the straight line distance between the point of its attachment to the window frame at its top and said base frame prior to attachment of the web over the securing means, whereby on attachment of the web to the upper part of the window frame said resilient members are placed under tension.

3. In combination with a window frame or the like, fixed retaining means on the frame at each side thereof, an awning web, a substantially U- shaped base frame on which said web is mounted,

said base frame having resilient arms detachably engaged with said fixed retaining means, cooperative detachable fasteners on the upper part of said window frame and the top of said web, said window frame fasteners and retaining means being in a fixed vertically spaced relation, and the length of said web being less than the straight line distance between the fasteners at the upper part of window frame and the bight of said base frame prior to fastening of the web whereby an upward pull on the web is required to effect its attachment which places said resilient arms under a spring tension acting to maintain the web in taut condition.

4. In combination with a window frame or the like, a substantially U-shaped base frame, a web mounted on the bight portion thereof, arms extending from said bight portion and having resilie-n-t portions, securing means on the sides of said window frame for said resilient arm portions, means for fixedly attaching the top "of said web to the upper part of the window frame, and the length of said web being less than the straight line distance between the bight portion of said base frame and the point of attachment of said web at its top to the window frame prior to its attachment.

5. In combination with a window frame or the like, an awning comprising a substantially U- shaped, one piece inherently resilient base frame, a web mounted at its bottom on the bight portion of the base frame, means for attaching the top of said web to the upper part of the window frame, means on the window frame at each side thereof for connecting the terminal portions of said base frame to the window frame against vertical movement, and the length of said web being less than the straight line distancebetween the bight portion of said base frame and the point of attachment of the top of the web to the window frame prior to attachment of the web thereto whereby to place the arms of said base frame under spring tension when the web is attached at its top to the window frame.

6. In combination with a window frame or the like, an awning comprising a substantially U- shaped base frame, a'web mounted at its bottom on the bight portion of the base frame, cooperative fastener means on the upper part of the window frame and the top of said web, fixed socket means on the window frame at each side thereof at substantially the horizontal level of the bight of said base frame prior to top attachment of the web, the arms of said base frame having resilient terminal portions received in said socket means and the length of said web being less than the straight line distance between the bight portion of said base frame and the fastener means at the top part of the window frame prior to attachment of the web thereto, whereby to place said socket engaged terminal portions under spring tension when the web is attached at its top to the window frame.

7 In combination with a window frame or the like, an awning base frame connected to the window frame, web securing means fixed on the top portion of the window frame, a web on the base frame attachable at its top to said securing means and of a length less than the straight line distance between said securing means and the outermost portion of said base frame prior to top attachment of the web, and said base frame itself having resilient means tensioning the base frame downwardly against the upward pull of the web on the base frame when the web is attached at its top.

8. In combination with a window frame or the like, an awning base frame connected at fixed points to the window frame at each side thereof, a web securing means carried by the top portion of said window frame, a web on said base frame attachable at its top to said securing means and of a length less than the straight line distance between said securing means and the outermost portion of the base frame prior to top attachment of the web, and said base frame embodying resilient portions flexed by the upward pull of the web on the base frame when the web is attached at its top, whereby to maintain the attached web in a taut condition.

9. In combination with a window frame or the like, awning web securing means on the upper part thereof, an awning web attachable at its top edge to said securing means, a base frame to which the bottom portion of the web is secured, window frame engageable resilient members extending from said base frame, means on the sides of the window frame anchoring said members thereto, and said members being angled intermediate their ends in a manner to be flexed under tension when the top of the web is attached to said securing means.

10. In combination with a window frame or the like, an awning including a web attachable at its top to the upper part of the window frame and a base frame on which the web is mounted at its lower end, eyes on the sides of the window frame, resilient members extending from said base frame and having angled terminal portions insertable through said eyes, the length of said web being less than the straight line distance between its point of top attachment and the outermost portion of the base frame prior to top attachment of the web and said terminal portions having a fulcrum bearing on said eyes, whereby on attachment of the web at its top the upward pull of the web on the base frame rocks said terminal portions on their eye fulcrums against the sides of the window frame into tight bearing contact under spring tension imparted by flexation of said resilient members under the upward pull of the web.

11. In combination with a window frame or the like, an awning web, a base frame supporting the bottom of the web laterally outward of the window frame, said base frame having resilient arms anchored to the window frame, and means for fixedly securing the top of the web to the upper part of the window frame, the resilient arms of said base frame being tensioned and thereby exerting a constant downward pull on the web-in the applied operative position of the awning whereby the web is maintained in a taut condition under tension.

12. In combination with a window frame or the like, an awning web, a base frame supporting the bottom of the web laterally outward of the window frame, said base frame having spring metal arms anchored to the window frame, and means for fixedly securing the top of the web to the upper part of the window frame, the spring arms of said base frame being tensioned and thereby exerting a constant downward pull on the web in the applied operative position of the awning whereby the web is maintained in a taut condition under spring tension.

' OSCAR C. TABB. 

